ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

BURT FINNEY PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #1256

DATES: 1925-1959

SIZE: 1.5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: Photocopies of the Burt Finney Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Mary Louise Finney (daughter of Burt Finney), Bismarck, North Dakota, in July 1992 (Acc.#92-1834).

PROVENANCE: The originals of the Burt Finney Papers are held by Mary Louise Finney.

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Burt Finney was born to Charles and Ellen Finney on April 11, 1880 on a homestead in Cass County. At age 14, he became an apprentice to the local pharmacist. He moved to Bismarck seven years later, where he established his own pharmacy. He lived in Bismarck for the rest of his life. On January 17, 1917 he married Mary J. Stevens of Bismarck, ND. His first and only child, Mary Louise Finney, was born on July 30, 1919. Throughout his life Burt was involved in many clubs and organizations and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Burt enjoyed hunting, fishing, music, theatre, and ballet. He died August 13, 1959.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Burt Finney Papers consist mainly of correspondence from Burt to his daughter, Mary Louise (Box 1, Folder 5 - Box 2, Folder 12). The letters date from 1925-1958 and discuss topics such as: birthdays, trips, politics, weather, parental concerns regarding Mary's grades, jobs, and social life, as well as World War II, Burt's social life, and entertainment.

In addition to the letters, the collection contains an eleven-chapter book related to Finney's correspondence compiled by Mary Louise (Box 1, Folder 1-2). Also included are character sketches and odds and ends from the book As I Remember It written by Burt Finney, in addition to the finished book itself (Box 1, Folders 3-4).

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

1. As It Was Written: Letters from a Father to His Daughter, Chapters 1-5
2. As It Was Written: Letters from a Father to His Daughter, Chapters 6-11
3. Miscellaneous Bits and Pieces, Character sketches, reminiscences, and odds and ends of As I Remember It
4. As I Remember It, by Burt Finney
5. Letters to Mary Louise; First letter to Minnewaukan, ND; 12th birthday, first SWIRL trip, Chicago World's Fair, first air mail from Bismarck 1925-1935
6. Letters to Mary Louise; Aboard the SWIRL, Juliette Low International Camp 1936-1937
7. Letters to Mary Louise; Huskies, Wilkie Campaign, Big Blizzard 1940
8. Letters to Mary Louise; College Grades and May Festival at University of Michigan 1941
9. Letters to Mary Louise; (Chicago) Mary Louise Finney's first job, trials, tribulations, and parental support 1942
10. Letters to Mary Louise; (Seattle) War, Mary Louise Finney's first job 1943
11. Letters to Mary Louise; (Seattle) War, Illness 1944
12. Letters to Mary Louise; Politics, D-Day, new job prospects 1945
13. Letters to Mary Louise; Drugstore Deal, Pop's 66th birthday 1946
14. Letters to Mary Louise; Letters from Florida and book review 1947
15. Letters to Mary Louise; Pop's 68th birthday and letters to Redwing, MN job 1948

Box 2
Folder

1. Letters to Mary Louise; Letters from Florida 1950
2. Letters to Mary Louise; 34th wedding anniversary, parents' trip to Utah
3. Letters to Mary Louise; (Europe) News from home 1952
4. Letters to Mary Louise; (New York City) JAN 1953-JUN 1953
5. Letters to Mary Louise; (New York City) JUL 1953-DEC 1953
6. Letters to Mary Louise; (New York City) JAN 1954-MAY 1954
7. Letters to Mary Louise; (New York City) MAY 1954-NOV 1954
8. Letters to Mary Louise; (Kansas City) A retiree's "social life" 1955
9. Letters to Mary Louise; (Kansas City) 1956
10. Letters to Mary Louise; (Kansas City) 1957
11. Letters to Mary Louise; (Kansas City) 1958
12. Letters to Mary Louise; (Kansas City) 1958

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